![The discrepancy between fictional and real relationships is a key factor in these trends. The rise of social media has made in-person grand gestures far less prominent. The days of the “Say Anything” boom box or the “10 Things I Hate About You” bleacher performance seem even more distant than when the movies were originally released.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Romance-novels-story-1200x848.jpg)
Love’s new chapter: The empowering resurgence of romance novels
By Stella Bleiweis, Walt Whitman High School
• June 3, 2024
![Class of 2010 graduate and conservation photographer Kyle Obermann takes a self portrait photo while on a shoot.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/self-portrait-1-1200x800.jpg)
Conservation photographer captures world to change it
By Ingrid Smith, McCallum High School
• May 31, 2024
![Jaime Lannister, Maleficent and Bowser are three examples of villains in media.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-1-1-1200x800.png)
Embracing evil
By Lillian Wang, Monta Vista High School
• May 31, 2024
![Class of 2023 graduate Molly Morneweck onscreen at Somerville Theater in Growing Pains.
In this follow up to last years spotlight on Morneweck, Growing Pains premieres.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/17744186-1E3C-41FF-987D-C775F28349CE-1200x799.jpeg)
“Growing Pains”: WHS graduate’s feature film premieres
By Penelope Biddle, Wayland High School
• May 31, 2024
![In the “Espresso” music video, Sabrina Carpenter relaxes at a beach.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/espresso.png)
Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ is an addicting pop brew
By Alicia Yee, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
• May 31, 2024
![Coppell High School senior Brianna Henderson has accumulated more than 18,000 followers on TikTok (@brezyh). Henderson films fashion related content, posting curated style videos and brand sponsorships. Photo by Kayla Nguyen, Photo illustration by Sofia Exposito](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/B4C6E050-550E-4099-BE25-56124B64AECB.gif)
Henderson stars on TikTok with a passion for fashion
By Pranavi Ramineni, Coppell High School
• May 30, 2024
Inclusion on stage: Autistic WJ student stars in musical
By Billie Lieber, Walter Johnson High School
• May 29, 2024
‘This ain’t Texas’ – but it is country
By Emma Powell, Baldwin High School - PA
• May 23, 2024
Challenger? I hardly know ‘er!
By Tegenn Jeffery, Huntington Beach High School
• May 23, 2024
![Violinist Darren Liu 24 stands in front of a row of violins on display at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) convention. Westwoods Symphony Orchestra was invited to TMEA for an honors recital because they were recognized as the best orchestra in Texas.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/darren_liu_2-900x1200.png)
“There’s no way it ends here”: Violinist Darren Liu ‘24 Shares Special Bond With Music
By Serena Liu, WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - Austin
• May 21, 2024
![Photo courtesy of Tristen Riggs.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/23-e1716225459894.jpeg)
Freshman Tristen Riggs’ Pursuit in Acting
By Hannah Bland, McNeil High School
• May 21, 2024
![From Barbie to Mulan, nostalgia has been a marketing strategy to remodel remniscent shows, yet some approaches have entered gray regions between offering fresh perspectives and exploiting the audiences pre-existing connections.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/nostalgia-in-media-1200x800.png)
Nostalgia in media: Toeing the line between modernized and contrived
By Valerie Shu and Alyssa Wang
• May 21, 2024
![As she sits outside of the auditorium, sophomore Victoria Byers prepares for pictures following her win. Byers placed second in the contest sponsored by the Mockingbird Poetry Society. She continues to participate in contests and in sharing her stories with her community. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Byers)](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-17-at-5.40.01-PM.png)
Beyond the verse
By Sofia Ayala, Prosper High School
• May 21, 2024
![Billie Eilishs latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, was released today. Image courtesy of Interscope Records.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-17-1.28.14-PM.png)
Eilish’s new album closes door on earlier sounds, themes
By Jacey Radcliffe and Aria Majcher
• May 21, 2024
Jupiter High student competes on “The Voice”
By Shayna Lagos, Jupiter High School
• May 21, 2024
![Virality, and the fame and wealth associated with it, also has adverse effects though — the chance artists may become famous on such a massive platform at any given moment constantly looms over their heads and directly affects the music they’re making for the worse.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-05-16-105243-e1715871295699.png)
The TikTokification of music — a destructive trend
By Landon Heuer, Walt Whitman High School
• May 21, 2024
Bowie students advance careers in Animation III class
By Asher Hagan, James Bowie High School
• May 21, 2024
![Wesley Royer works in the shop making cutting boards for his trip to Nationals. The boards are hand-crafted and lasered tediously with the ADM Tiger logo.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_3960-1200x900.jpg)
Wesley Royer Nails Down a State Title
By Delaney Kahler, Adel DeSoto Minburn High School - IA
• May 17, 2024
Stages to screens
By Aadhya Yanamadala, The Hockaday School
• May 15, 2024
![Monica Nitu works meticulously to produce the fourth issue of The Playful Porpoise. She balances this while finishing off her senior year at Xavier College Preparatory.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/purpoise-1.png)
The Playful Porpoise: by students, for students
By Chloe Beery, Xavier College Preparatory
• May 15, 2024
![MFH members playing their concert. (MFH website)](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image2-3-1200x891.png)
Musicians For Hope Strikes a Chord in the Chicago Area
By Caroline Gerber, Lake Forest High School
• May 15, 2024
![Kid, played by Patel, stands amongst a crowd in Yatana. Photo courtesy of Monkeypaw Productions](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/monkey-man11-1200x600.avif)
‘Monkey Man’ provides a visceral, modern take on Hindu mythology
By Sagnik Nag Chowdhury and Trisha Sannappanavar
• May 15, 2024
![Graphic courtesy of Taylor Ross.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image5-1-e1715210784709.png)
The Forest Scout’s 2024 Musicians of the Year: The Band Women
By Emma Stadolnik, Lake Forest High School
• May 14, 2024
![Farthing poses with his work.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/HenryF_04232024_ArabellaG002-1200x800.jpg)
Junior wins national YoungArts award; travels to L.A.
By Ruby Flanner, Lawrence High School
• May 13, 2024
Dev Patel’s Monkey Man: More than just an action movie
By Sasha Cabral, Carnegie Vanguard High School
• May 13, 2024
![The tennis drama “Challengers,” starring Zendaya, marks her first movie as a lead role. The film debuted April 26 and reached the top of the U.K. box office charts within its first weekend, according to Screen Daily.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled_Artwork-5-1200x800.jpg)
“Challengers” showcases passion for tennis on, off court
By Isabella Gibson and Ailish Herrmann
• May 10, 2024
![Little and her middle school symphony orchestra win a first division award. They had just participated in a competition called the Bluebonnet festival.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_0468-scaled-1-1200x900.jpg)
A passion for performing
By Grace Turney and Tanvi Dubey
• May 10, 2024
![Coppell High School junior Varsha Vijay has served as the Coppell Choir secretary for the past two years and is a member of A Capella Mixed Choir. Vijay is in her seventh year of choir and further pursues her passions by being a part of the Dallas Symphony Children’s Chorus.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Vijay_Kunte_1-1200x800.jpg)
Vijay’s musical journey from classical Carnatic to choir cadences
By Rhea Choudhary, Coppell High School
• May 9, 2024
Exploring Woodbridge High’s Blossoming Student-Led Music Scene
By Alexis Levin, Woodbridge High School
• May 9, 2024
![Senior Kate Poling-Cummings displays her photography portfolio during Art Walk.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/katephotog.jpeg)
Capturing Life Through the Lens
By Hailey Gray, Pittsburg High School - KS
• May 8, 2024
![The TV show “Fallout,” based on the Fallout game franchise owned by Bethesda, was released on Amazon Prime on April 10, 2024 with one season and eight episodes. The show stars Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins as its three protagonists.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fallout.jpg)
“Fallout”: Giving Increasing Hope for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
By Charlie Gattman, La Salle Catholic Preparatory High School
• May 7, 2024
![Girls State attendee Brooke Taylor seen taking a selfie with additional participants. Photo used with permission from Apple TV+.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-04-26-at-11.54.38-AM-1200x660.png)
“Girls State:” A captivating female empowerment story
By Max Spiegel, Green Hope High School
• May 7, 2024
![Envisioning a cathedral in his mind, senior Soren Frederick puts pencil to paper and practices a rough sketch in the drawing room. Frederick grew up surrounded by a family of artists who helped him realize his passion for drawing and painting as he matured. “My family [is] very much [an inspiration] for drawing and painting. [Art] didn’t start [in the family] with me; it started with my mom and my older sister, and my older brother is very good at drawing [too],” Frederick said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0017-1200x800.jpg)
“Reflections” of talent
By Emily Early and Samir Shaik
• May 7, 2024
![Brad Jameston performs original song “Dance in Your Fire” at the South Bank Nov. 23 2023. Jameston began performing his music in London after busking around Europe.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/wNzcm1f8ik8SOzBBpHeqKFbvwQh7SwGTgKku2Qab-1200x800.jpg)
Singer-songwriter Brad Jameston reflects on career pathway, busking experiences
By Anna Reznick, The American School in London
• May 7, 2024
![Coppell High School senior Joshua Kim plays a series of warmup chords and progressions prior to playing a piece. Kim has been playing piano since age 10 and plans to major in piano at the University of Texas at Austin.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Chowdhary_Rhea_joshkim1-1200x800.jpeg)
Kim composing his own story with piano
By Yug Talukdar, Coppell High School
• May 6, 2024
![Sophomore Srija Nallala hides underneath the mask of a calf and blanket for one of the scenes during the Kalyana Srinivasm dance drama performance.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cow-1200x857.png)
Dancing for Tradition
By Poojasai Kona, Frisco High School
• May 3, 2024
Students Brighten up Senior Home With Music
By Amelie Giomi, Menlo School
• May 3, 2024
![Senior Ella Hamlin hangs lights during her technical theater class. Hamlin first enrolled in an independent study in order to further her knowledge of engineering and design. She knows the sound system and the lighting system in the theater better than anyone in the
building, Greg Kendall said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screen-Shot-2024-04-29-at-1.23.03-PM-1200x798.png)
Guiding Light
By Ella Braig, Ladue Horton Watkins High School
• May 3, 2024
![Disposable cameras have also gained popularity the past few years.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0084-1200x800.jpg)
The revival of digital cameras
By Aly Dusing, West Chicago Community High School
• May 3, 2024
![Poetry offers students a place to express themselves, whether through writing, reading or reciting it. You can just use words and use the feelings of those words to create a painting, Eric Zhang (11) said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC4620-1200x798.jpg)
Poetry empowers student voices
By Suhani Gupta, The Harker Upper School
• May 3, 2024
![As a Belle, Rexford sits in the stands at a home football game.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/38D4D38F-C201-49C2-8CBD-EE892AEE7B0B-1200x1160.jpg)
Snapping memories
By Emay Kong, Bellaire High School
• May 3, 2024
![Camryn Harris ’24 dances her way across the world; she participated in many local competitions at the age of five to get ready for the world competitions she attends now. (Photo contributed by Camryn Harris ’24)](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-04-30-at-3.40.25-PM.png)
Camryn Harris ’24 reveals impact of Irish dancing career
By Zara Saliba '26, Staples High School
• May 3, 2024
![Sophomore Sahasra Mandalapu practices bharatanatyam choreography in class. These new dances will be performed in an annual show in February. Mandalapu found that practicing in class helped her overcome stage fright during her performances. “When [I] get on stage, Im nervous Im going to forget, even though Ive done it for so long,” Mandalapu said. “Theres still that little bit of stage fright [when] I second-guess myself that I dont know it enough, but I do because Ive been practicing for a whole year.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Sahasra-6-Large-1200x844.jpeg)
Step by Step
By Ira Rodrigues, Ladue Horton Watkins High School
• May 1, 2024
Join Super Earth’s fight for democracy in “Helldivers 2”
By Grant Stables, Chantilly High School
• May 1, 2024
![BELOVED BAND: I-94 band, a group of U-High seniors, grew from a love of jazz into a passion these students now have. The name, an interstate highway running through Chicago, represents the groups Chicago roots.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-04-29-at-1.18.14 PM-1200x810.png)
Rhythmic Journey: U-High Band was founded through jazz, evolved into friendship
By Mia Lipson, University of Chicago Laboratory High School
• May 1, 2024
![In their full runway outfits, (from left) Audrey Lee 25, Olivia Lucy Teets, 25, Fashion Design teacher Ms. Judy Chance, and Xueying Lili Yang pose for a photo. All three girls made it to Austin Fashion Week by getting in the top 10 in a previous runway show held by Shop LC.
[I like my students] creativity and how they can look at a fabric and make it their own, Ms. Chance said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_9686-e1714088765730-1129x1200.jpeg)
Runway Ready: Fashion Design Students Attend Austin Fashion Week
By Alessandra Ashford, WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - Austin
• April 30, 2024
Opinion: Despite recent progress Black representation in media still lacking
By Micah Freeman, Starr's Mill High School
• April 30, 2024
![Kickkat members and juniors Sriman Ratnapu, Jayadev Ghanta, Vineeth Yenduri and Jonathan Bruennert and sophomore Bruhath Batla performed at the Valkyries show in January. Not pictured: juniors Daniel Wan and
Aryan Patnaik.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0087-Enhanced-NR-3-1200x800.jpg)
Striking a chord with the Kickkats band
By Qianzi Loo, Lynbrook High School - CA
• April 30, 2024
“Civil War”: “An American nightmare”
By Henry Dupree, Walt Whitman High School
• April 30, 2024
![Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss join with True Blood writer Alexander Woo to create a new hit show, 3 Body Problem.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/graphic-838x1200.png)
‘3 Body Problem’ takes viewers on a journey through time and space
By Taiwo Balogun, Richard Montgomery High School - MD
• April 30, 2024
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Publication Tips
We'll be the first to admit that getting your story published on Best of SNO is hard. We receive over 100 submissions per day, and only about 15 percent are selected for publication.
There are multiple factors that come into play when deciding if a story is Best of SNO-worthy. From engaging writing and unique angles to well thought out multimedia elements, more considerations are made than it might look.
If you're having a hard time achieving that Best of SNO distinction, check out our past newsletters to get a better idea of the type of content we're looking for.
There are multiple factors that come into play when deciding if a story is Best of SNO-worthy. From engaging writing and unique angles to well thought out multimedia elements, more considerations are made than it might look.
If you're having a hard time achieving that Best of SNO distinction, check out our past newsletters to get a better idea of the type of content we're looking for.